Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)

Abstract

Parents and caregivers hold an essential place in a child’s development that contains the potential to influence behavior and model positive methods in which to perceive and cope with emotion. Filial therapy, a form of therapy that teaches parents play therapy skills to promote child positive behavior, is an approach that has grown in interest amongst professionals. The need for more research and data on the outcomes of parent-child relationship treatment has been expressed consistently as research on the topic is limited. Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) is a form of filial therapy that is conducted in a group format and focuses specifically on enhancing the child-parent relationship while also introducing behavioral techniques to parents for use at home with their child. Assessing this therapeutic approach through data gathering and analysis of program outcomes could allow for more opportunity to conduct research on filial therapy as a whole, as well as promote efficiency and focus on areas of growth throughout treatment. One avenue is via the Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS), which is a tool used to identify and monitor parenting strengths and areas of growth regarding specific interactive skills a parent uses with their child. Many of the specific parenting behaviors monitored in KIPS are similar to the techniques taught in CPRT. A proposal for utilizing KIPS within the CPRT format is warranted to address the lack of research in filial therapy, as well as promote the efficacy of using measurable tools to monitor progress in treatment overall.

Faculty Mentor

Myra Beth Bundy, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Dustin Wygant, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Theresa Nowak, Ph.D.

Department Affiliation

Psychology

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